Ryo Kusumoto Photography

comming soon "連師子/Renjishi"

It's currently under construction as my first artist book "連師子/Renjishi". I am promoting production to be started ordering/delivering to everyone's hand in 2018. So I am pleased if you can check it on completion.

(Summary of the Book)This is a story of affection, existential proof, and tradition that followed the life of a Japanese dancer who disappeared suddenly although had been special active both at home and abroad.

Based on the rise and fall of modern Japanese traditional dance, people changed to think “the popularity= value”, and Unconditionally praise the word "tradition". On the other hand, "indifference" never take us to the theater. It's a serious contradiction regardless of generations.

Fumiko Yamato is the last traditional dancer who had leaded the forefront of the era when the postwar dance world prospered. She keeps dancing even now as she is 77.

She left a reputable company, one that was respected by name. She abandoned the life of a traditional woman; one of marriage, childbirth. She retired from dancing in the theater in the show "This is an art." These are very different from a strict and conservative Japanese dancer.

This book is composed of her life compared to the dance performance "Renjishi". It connected with a legend in China, "Lion pierces child to the bottom of the valley and grows only the strong child lion who climbed by oneself". In Japan, it has been transformed as unique culture to Noh, Kabuki and Japanese dance. The affectionate of parents and children and the severity that paves the way are expressed.

When passing something to others, in order to find "valuable things" in themselves, we interpret memory a little in self-positive manner. Also, it's impossible for the other side to receive everything without leaking it.

In this work, in order to seamlessly visually express what tradition of art/life is done with mutual ambiguity and wonder, I used a fragment of the fact such as a photograph of the past, documentary newly shot based on the fact, replicas etc..

My latest dummy book "Renjishi" was selected as one of the short lists at the Unseen Dummy Award.
This book will be exhibited at the venue of Unseen Photo Fair to be held in Amsterdam. It took a long time to repeat the trial and error. I am very thankful that they had read carefully to understand the intention included in the details of the work. And I was very encouraged to be evaluated at this timing. Thank you very much.